A great combat game, with archery and sword fights and many fun spells creating a dynamic gameplay environment.
So in many ways rather than just thinking about combat, you are thinking about where the combat is/will be taking place. Maybe you'll dodge an attack by moving right, quickly spin around, kick a turned opponent in the back and listen to him scream as he soars off the cliff to oblivion. You can use existing traps, like metal spikes and a pressure plate as a means to lure enemy zombies into a death trap. What's probably more important is that the game lets you choose how to play, you can assign points to different areas of your skill set, like strength, magic (and the spells), archery, all helping you with current weapons and letting you use the more advanced ones you may find. You can choose to become jack of all trades to have a solution to most situations, or focus on only a few.
This game is not like oblivion, you don't kill a monster for random loot, it's a linear story with items placed throughout the levels in order for you to get decent improvements without waiting for a number to come up in the code. There are also hidden areas, some with more advanced weaponry, others with good items like health and many potions but there is no money in this game, nothing to buy. The game follows a limited branching story, some with optional objectives but in a few parts you will be left to choose how things play out, and where your allegiances lie. There are also numerous ways to approach areas and in particular using traps to your advantage that can change from battle to battle.
Most of the game you will have a voice in your head that is wonderfully performed, this voice will coach you in some areas if you are stuck and just make general chit chat to keep things fresh and humorous, but it would have been even better with more and more helpful at some points. You will be fighting in many locations of which can appear very massive, some at first glance may appear unscaleable. Rope arrows will help you ascend, attaching to wooden objects, and some sections will require this skill.
You have some great spells at your disposal like charm, which turns an enemy to your side for a short period of time, handy at weakening groups before attacking. There are a few boss type battles, but are seamlessly integrated that you won't feel like they are bosses. You can perform critical hits which instant kill enemies, usually with a nice slow motion animation effect. Unfortunately the game does get a bit clumsy when equipping different loadouts mid battle, sometimes costing you your life. The ending is disappointingly let down by a short cutscene but overall the game remains interesting throughout.
Dark Messiah got some mixed reviews at launch; it did not score that well overall due mainly to how buggy it was. Now however with the patch and a good PC the game is very enjoyable and worth playing unless you dislike spiders, in which case you should avoid at all costs. If you think about a good fantasy combat game that uses traps in the levels to enhance the fights, you will find few better than Dark Messiah.